Screen timeout · Settings guide
How to keep your phone screen on longer on Samsung and Pixel phones
Sources checked · how we check
Screen timeout sets how long the screen stays on without a touch. Samsung lets you choose from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, but not turn it off completely.
01 · Before you start
Check these first
- Samsung says it isn't possible to turn off screen timeout entirely, because of battery life and performance.
- Samsung recommends 1 minute or less to save battery.
Source: Samsung: change the screen timeout on your Samsung Galaxy
02 · Change the setting
Step by step, by device
Change screen timeout
Settings → Display → Screen timeout
- Open Settings and tap Display.
- Tap Screen timeout and choose a duration between 15 seconds and 10 minutes.
Source: Samsung: change the screen timeout on your Samsung Galaxy
Keep the screen on while you're looking
Settings → Display → Screen timeout → Keep screen on while viewing
- Go to Settings → Display → Screen timeout.
- Turn on the switch next to Keep screen on while viewing.
Samsung says this uses the front camera to detect your face, and may not work as well in low light.
Source: Samsung: change the screen timeout on your Samsung Galaxy
Google Pixel
Settings → Display & touch → Screen timeout
- Open Settings and tap Display & touch.
- Tap Screen timeout to choose how long the screen stays on. Adaptive timeout is in the same menu.
Google lists Screen attention, which keeps the screen on while you're looking at it, for Pixel 4 and later.
Source: Google: manage screen and display settings on a Pixel phone
If the setting doesn't change
If the screen still turns off quickly on the lock screen, that's expected: Samsung says the lock screen may turn off after a shorter period, and this can't be changed.
Source: Samsung: change the screen timeout on your Samsung Galaxy
Frequently asked questions
Can I stop my Samsung screen from ever turning off?
No. Samsung says screen timeout can't be turned off entirely; the longest option is 10 minutes, or use Keep screen on while viewing.
Why does my lock screen turn off faster?
Samsung says the lock screen may turn off automatically after a shorter period, and it can't be customized.